Madina Polyclinic gets surgical theatre after 5 decades

A new surgical theatre has been inaugurated at the Madina Polyclinic, Kekele, in the La Nkwantanang–Madina Municipality to improve access to surgical and obstetric care for residents of Madina and surrounding communities.

As part of efforts to enhance patient care, Freedom Aid Ghana also introduced a Daliha Food product stand at the facility. The stand is stocked with iron-rich Daliha Food products made from turkey berry (locally known as abeduru) to support patients requiring nutritional supplementation, particularly pregnant women suffering from Anaemia.

The project was delivered through a collaboration between Freedom Aid Ghana and the Australian High Commission in Ghana. It was supported by the Member of Parliament for Madina and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The facility had operated without an operating theatre since its establishment more than five decades ago.

Contribution
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony last Thursday (March 5), the Executive Director of Freedom Aid Ghana, Bright Atawiah Adoboe, said the surgical theatre forms part of the organization’s continued commitment to supporting vulnerable and underserved communities through health-focused interventions.

He explained that the newly commissioned surgical theatre is the 18th project executed by Freedom Aid Ghana and the third project funded by the Australian Government through the High Commission’s Direct Aid Programme (DAP), which supports initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations in Africa.

Mr. Adoboe noted that the facility would significantly improve access to surgical services for residents of Madina and neighbouring communities who previously had to travel to other hospitals after referral. He added that the theatre would also help reduce pressure on nearby hospitals while ensuring that patients receive timely and potentially life-saving interventions. Mr Adoboe thanked the Australian Government for their continuous international cooperation which is rooted in humanity, compassion, and sustainable development.

Australian High Commission
For her part, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E Berenice Owen-Jones, said the High Commission supported the project through its Direct Aid Programme (DAP), which focuses on improving health outcomes for vulnerable communities. She explained that the programme funds community-based initiatives that address critical development challenges, including access to healthcare.

Ms. Owen-Jones noted that the surgical theatre was among several projects supported by the High Commission under the DAP programme over the past year.

While commending Ghana for the progress made in reducing maternal mortality, she emphasised that more work remains to ensure that pregnant women have access to safe delivery services and emergency medical care. She added that the availability of the theatre would help strengthen public confidence in the healthcare system within the community.

Need for More Health Infrastructure
The Member of Parliament for Madina, Hon. Dr Francis Xavier Sosu, called for increased investment in health infrastructure within the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality to meet the growing healthcare demands of the population. He explained that Madina’s population has grown significantly in recent years as more people move into the area, placing pressure on existing social infrastructure, including health facilities, schools and roads.

According to Dr Sosu, the rising demand for healthcare services requires deliberate investment by government and development partners to expand facilities and improve access to quality care. He noted that the polyclinic had served the community for more than five decades without a surgical theatre, forcing many patients requiring surgical procedures to be referred to other hospitals. The MP also appealed to the management and staff of the facility to ensure proper maintenance of the theatre to sustain its benefits for the community.

Sustainability
The immediate past Acting Medical Superintendent of the facility, Emmanuel Asante and the Municipal Health Director, Dr Efua Commeh expressed gratitude to all partners who contributed to the successful completion of the project.

Dr. Asante assured residents of Madina that the facility would deliver high-quality surgical services and appealed for further support to help transform the polyclinic into a full district hospital.

Source: graphiconline